Partnerships and diversity keys to success

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The success of the entire region is linked to a strong urban core. And Erie's history shows that partnerships and people who have their sights set firmly on what can move our region forward can make that happen.

"I believe strongly that progress is evolutionary, not revolutionary," said Jim Dible, former president of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership and past publisher of the Erie Times-News. "I view the next decade as one of continuing the collaboration that has given me great hope for our future. We are rich in diversity in the Erie region, including becoming a more diverse economy. While still embracing and seeking to grow our manufacturing base, we are also growing excellence in the tourism, education and health-care sectors. That diversity will continue to shield us from dramatic downturns but, more importantly, give us many ways over the next decade to smile about where we live."

"Think of what didn't exist 20 years ago," said Jake Rouch, economic development vice president for the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. "With the addition of upper Peach Street, LECOM, the bayfront, new medical buildings, the Intermodal Transportation Center and more, Erie grows and evolves."

John Elliot, CEO of the Erie Development Corp. of Erie County, said our region continues to expand in health care, education, tourism and retail industries, we're also fortunate to have a strong base in precision manufacturing, exporting hardwoods and our largest natural resource -- Lake Erie.

A bit of (downtown) history

Tom Hagen, the longtime leader of Erie Insurance and Custom Group Industries, remembers vacant downtown buildings, including the Boston Store, in the late 1970s. As part of the Erie Tomorrow Corp., a group aimed at revitalizing downtown Erie, his concern was the quadrant from Second to 10th streets between Sassafras and Holland streets.

"We hired American Cities Corp., involved in revitalizing Baltimore's harbor, and got some development going -- even when interest rates were as high as 20 percent," Hagen said. "We concentrated on the downtown area because we knew someday the bayfront would take care of itself."

Momentum got started with construction of a 200,000-square-foot Erie Insurance building, revitalization of Modern Tool, and a federal grant for infrastructure improvements on the lower east side. Erie Insurance continued to restore additional downtown buildings.

Joyce Savocchio and Judy Lynch, former Erie City mayor and Erie County executive respectively, remember their times in office as filled with a lot of creative energy and ideas. Both are proud of the focus on regionalism.

"When we were in office together, our alliance was strong," Savocchio said. "If something was good for the city, it was often good for the county, and vice versa. We had a common vision and few disagreements. We could call each other and say 'yes' without 10 detailed reports to follow it up."

Lynch said a lot of factors influenced development. Rehabilitating land into industrial parks fostered business growth, while investment funds for startup industries improved availability of funding. Labor education through the Erie County Technical Institute also helped local industries.

The addition of a baseball park was pivotal, and so was the controversial move of the Erie County Public Library's main branch from part of the courthouse complex to its current bayfront location in 1996.

"It was a true partnership between the city, county and state governments," Lynch said. "Some argued against the new library's home on the bayfront in the former Penelec building because they felt it would go unused in the winter -- and the books would freeze. But, with the installation of the Bayfront Highway from State to Parade Street (in 1994) making access easier, it showed that the region was ready for nonindustrial development on the bay."

Both Lynch and Savocchio credit partnerships between public and private sectors, government and nonprofits for turning around the region.

Businesses at work for the region

The work of the 1970s, '80s and '90s laid the foundation for business growth and expansion. The Council of Governments helped smaller municipalities align for combined economic growth and an increased emphasis on regionalism. Downtown improvements continued with the addition of the ballpark, and later, life again at the Boston Store.

Ted Junker, retired leader of Marine Bank and later PNC Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, has watched the city sprawl to the bayfront. His leadership role continued in the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority, Erie Zoological Society, Erie Community Foundation, Saint Vincent Health Center and Hamot Health Foundation.

"The eventual development of the GAF site is the last critical piece of bayfront development," he said. "There's a lot of pressure to do something environmentally suitable. I hope the powers that be don't buckle and do something too quickly. I'm also excited at the deal worked out to keep Lord Corp. in Erie. That's a feather in the Erie Development Corp.'s hat.

"Erie has great potential. Fabulous potential. It needs leadership. There is a void, in my opinion, on the political side. We need more cooperation between the private and public sector like with Lord Corp. That kind of leadership will move the city and region forward," he said.

In late December, the Chamber announced a $1.8 million sustainable communities HUD grant (Department of Housing and Urban Development) for a project called Destination Erie. By partnering with city and county government, the Workforce Investment Board, the Jefferson Educational Society and 72 other regional partners, a regional assessment will be created during the next three years.

"It will create a vision for the future, and of the greatest importance, the creation of a regional sustainability action plan for the region," she explained.

"Our (chamber) membership is working hard to make the region a more nurturing environment to grow and retain existing businesses and industries that have invested in the region for decades. They're also developing a qualified workforce through education and employment training. We need a quality workforce to fill all the existing job openings in the community. Family-sustaining work is key to reversing our poverty trends, but our workforce needs to be drug free, have a basic education and attain quality workforce training.

"I believe there is a greater commitment of organizations in the region to work together. There is the realization that collaboration drives momentum."

Fantastic mix

Bayfront development has been a hot topic for decades. Harsh winter weather hasn't kept people away from the Blasco Library or frozen any books. As executive director for the Port Authority, Ray Schreckengost has an amazing view of Erie's key asset -- the waterfront. Great gains have been made since the mid-1990s with the Bayfront Parkway, Blasco Library, Erie Maritime Museum, Bicentennial Tower, Bayfront Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel, and the amphitheater at Liberty Park. While each development had its dose of controversy, the bayfront is thriving.

GAF is the last piece to develop.

"I'd expect developers to look at mixed use -- condos, housing, restaurants and entertainment," Schreckengost said. "Look what we have here. It's a fantastic mix. There's something to do in every season. Erie is a good family city. I don't think we'll see explosive growth -- but it will be steady. Erie is finally beginning to believe in itself. We need to give some ideas a chance to work."